John 3 v16 Greatest Prospect

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.       John 3 v16

8)   The greatest prospect

"Everlasting life"; the world has a saying "Get a life", and usually it comes from the younger generation who see the lifestyle of older people as boring and unexciting.  The principle is world wide and comes from the inner dissatisfaction most of us have about life.  Some turn to excesses, others to riches, and others to the constant pursuit of excellence.  This in itself is a confession that the simple things in life are not enough, that human beings are seeking more, because in themselves they are discontent. Deep down we all know there is something more, something better, something superior to what we have known.  Jesus said in His prayer John 17 v2-3 "As thou hast given Him (His Son) authority over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as thou has given Him, and this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent".  There are three important things here, first that this life can only come from Jesus Christ, He alone has the authority to give it; next He will only give to those whom the Father gives Him, and those are the ones who believe in God's Son; thirdly the essence of life is to know God and His Son.  When we understand just who God is and who His Son is, to know them is the zenith of life.  There is another worldly saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know", and sometimes this is true in a bad sense;  but to know God and His Son is indeed life. To know them is to know the most High, the most powerful, the most Holy, the most generous beings in all existence, and human beings made in the image of God and who have the breath of God within them will be satisfied with nothing less.

That is the prospect of all who believe in Him.  This life is no humdrum existence, it is far superior to anything the world can give.  Jesus called it "abundant" life (John 10v10), that is superabundant, superior, transcendent, a life above and beyond anything else.  Paul describes the superpower of God as he exhausts the Greek vocabulary for power, to change the lives of human beings, as "the exceeding greatness of His power, according to the energy of the strength of His might"(Ephesians 1 v19); again he uses superlative language in Ephesians 2v7 for the kindness of God, "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus";  Peter weighs in with superlatives to describe this life of God in the human soul, "Whom having not seen ye love; in whom though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory"; he also describes the future after death like this "..a living hope. to an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled that fadeth not away".  Paul spoke like this(from a prison (where he was held for his faith), "..what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and I count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them as dung, that I may gain Christ".  Everlasting life, abundant life, life beyond anything of this world, life beyond the grave, life that knows and loves and lives for, and lives with, the greatest persons we can know, who will never let us down.  Thoughts are summed up in the words of the anonymous composer set to music by the Swedish songwriter Anna Olander(1904)

"If I gained the world but lost the Saviour, were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort, in the things that soon must pass away? If I gained the world but lost the Saviour, would my gain be worth the life long strife? are all earthly pleasures worth comparing, for a moment  with a Christ filled life?

Had I wealth and love in fullest measure, and a name revered both near and far? Yet no hope beyond no harbour waiting, where my storm tossed vessel I might steer?  If I gained the world but lost the Saviour, who endured the cross and died for me. Could then all the world afford a refuge, whither in my anguish I might flee?

Oh what emptiness without the Saviour, mid the sins and sorrows here below! And eternity, how dark without Him! only night and tears and endless woe!. What though I may live without the Saviour when I come to die how would it be? Oh to face the valley's gloom without Him, and without Him all eternity!

Oh the joy of having all in Jesus, what a balm the broken heart to heal! Ne'er a sin so great but He'll forgive it, nor a sorrow that He does not feel! If I have but Jesus only Jesus, nothing else in all the world beside; Oh then everything is mine in Jesus, for my needs and more He will provide!"

                                                                    Jesus

"Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life"           John 6 v68